Witney-based British Motor Heritage has added yet another feather to its cap - the Mini Clubman saloon bodyshell.

This new shell is suitable for rebuilding any Mini Clubman saloon or Mini 1275 GT from 1972 to 1980, and is a complement to the 'normal' original Mini bodyshell successfully launched by the firm in 2002.

David Bishop, managing director of the company, which is the only one in the world that produces original factory-standard bodyshells for classic cars, said there was a real demand for the new bodyshell.

He said: "The main demand for Mini bodyshells is obviously for the original-shape saloon, but we also identified a significant call for bodyshells to repair or rebuild Clubman and 1275GT models. We are now delighted to be able to satisfy another important group of customers in the UK and other markets."

While the production tooling for the original Mini body came largely intact from Longbridge after the car finished its phenomenal 41-year run in 2000, the press tools and assembly jigs for the Clubman-style front end had not been used since 1980.

The company, which has a modern 51,500sq ft factory in Range Road, Witney, had to finance a considerable amount of assembly jig commissioning and press tool refurbishment to be able to produce the latest bodyshell.

Following usual Heritage practice, the Clubman body can be purchased either as a complete shell fitted with doors, bonnet and boot lid, with a recommended VAT-inclusive price of £2,750, or as a bare shell for £2,125.

It is built to comply with all original-equipment design and engineering standards, but uses current-technology cathodic electrophoretic coating, seam sealing and oven sealed water-based primer, offering better corrosion resistance than was available in the 1970s.

Heritage chairman, Neil Morrick said: "The Mini Clubman bodyshell launch gives further proof of our solid commitment to providing genuine parts for Britain's great classic cars. As thousands of our customers can now vouch, a new Heritage bodyshell is a time-saving and cost-effective approach to a major rebuild project, and gives the best quality result."

The firm also produces bodyshells for the MGB, the MG Midget/Austin Healey Sprite, the Triumph TR6 and the original Mini. It also produced all the bodies for the MG RV8.